Timeline
Rawlings celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2012, and the year-long celebration will link Rawlings’ storied past with its present-day brand power.
Long before the famous Rawlings’ trademark, “The Finest in the Field®,” appeared in advertisements featuring Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle and Brooks Robinson, “The Finest in the Field” became the foundation for every product line of the company, most notably Rawlings’ legendary baseball gloves.
Beginning with the original hand wrap model glove in 1887, Rawlings continuously redesigns defense with its long history of technological innovations: from the Bill Doak glove introduced in 1919, featuring a built-in pocket and formed web, to the 6-fingered Trap-Eze® launched in 1960, the most radical design change in 40 years, to 2010 debut of the REVO SOLID CORE™ series that redefines how a glove fits, feels and functions.
But Rawlings’ most famous glove has never been for sale.
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® started in 1957 after Rawlings executive Elmer Blasco noticed during a visit to spring training sites that 83% of regular players used Rawlings’ gloves. Since “The Finest in the Field” was the centerpiece of the company’s national advertising campaign, Blasco devised the idea to honor the best defensive players at each position and in each league with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award; at this point in time, baseball’s postseason awards focused almost entirely on offensive excellence.
The following scrollable timeline captures Rawlings’ product innovations that forever changed the game of baseball:
1877
FIRST-EVER FIELDER’S GLOVE
The original leather hand wrap model, popular until 1886 when the first gloves with fingers were introduced, could be worn on either hand
1899
REGULATION LEAGUE CATCHER’S MASK
Made of heavy black-enameled wire and padding faced with specially-tanned horsehide, this original catcher’s mask was “warranted first-class and reliable in every particular”
1901
NEWLY DESIGNED CATCHER’S MASK
Touted as “rust-proof, break-proof and injury-proof,” the redesigned construction consisted of heavy, hardened tinned wire frame and large, laced padding
1905
INFIELDER-SPECIFIC GLOVE
Designed to increase durability and protection for infielders who handle the ball more frequently than other position players, these gloves added larger, heavier padding around the edges and on the wrist
1910
10-OUNCE FIELDER’S GLOVE
Tested the 10-ounce fielder’s glove performance limit set in 1895; today’s gloves average around 24 ounces
1911
“SURE CATCH” OR WEB-FINGERED GLOVE
Rendered more durable due to its unique webbing made up of a single piece of leather between the fingers, thumb and palm
1919
OPEN-VISION MASK
Afforded a clear and unobstructed view for catchers and umpires with a construction that was stronger and more durable than past models
1919
BILL DOAK GLOVE
Paved the future of baseball gloves, featuring a revolutionary built-in pocket and the thumb and forefinger attached to form a web
1920
CHEST PROTECTOR
Made of the best quality khaki cloth sewed around parallel reed padded forms, this chest protector eliminated the need for inflatable body protection
1920
LEG GUARDS
Manufactured with hard fiber and stiff leather white canvas coverings, these big guards provided maximum protection and flexibility
1923
BODY PROTECTOR
Enhanced with extra stuffing and cross-stitched ribs, this leather-bound protector offered more protection than its predecessors
1933
3-FINGER BILL DOAK GLOVE
Expanded the famed glove series with this 3-finger design that provided added strength and extra protection
1933
“JIMMIE WILSON” CATCHER’S MASK
Made from electric-welded, extra heavy carbon steel, and encompassed with soft, glove leather laced to the frame, the large “spitter” opening of this mask allowed catchers to look sideways as well as forward for the first time
1933
“SAFETY FIRST” CATCHER’S MASK
Forged with heavy carbon steel, heavy wire ear guards and leather pads and laces, this mask offered players extra protection as well as the perfect fit
1934
FIRST-EVER SOFTBALL GLOVE
Designed strictly for softball, this glove made from genuine cowhide included an expanded length pattern to help secure the enlarged softball size
1941
DEEP WELL® POCKET
Introduced the famed “Deep Well®” pocket and featured a leather-wrapped trap later declared illegal
1941
“RUDY YORK” TRAPPER FIRST BASE MITT
Proved through statistics that clearly showed this glove was a direct cause of improved fielding percentages
1948
PLAYMAKER
Streamlined leather lace finger attachments in a 3-finger design
1951
FIRST-EVER BATTING HELMETS
Unveiled the first batting helmets containing three, rubber-padded fiber protectors (one on each side and one at back) to help prevent injury
1954
MICKEY MANTLE GLOVE
Introduced extended finger stalls for better finger control; also carried the autograph of the legendary Yankee star to attract fans of the game, not just players
1954
HEAD PROTECTORS
Made from hard fiber material and “Aire-Guard” vinyl padding, these were designed to be worn inside regulation cloth caps
1957
RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE AWARD®
The inaugural RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE AWARD® team is announced, including Hall of Fame players Willie Mays and Al Kaline
1958
DUKE SNYDER GLOVE
Used the new, Single Lazy “S” pocket lace, which attaches the web to the palm of the glove
1960
TRAP-EZE®
One of the most radical design changes in more than 40 years, the Trap-Eze® built-in web increased flexibility and made it easier to trap the ball while giving off a sixth-finger appearance
1968
FASTBACK®
Designed for increased glove control and extra protection, the Fastback® closed-back pattern featuring Basket-Web® allowed gloves to be manufactured larger than 12”
1970
REDESIGNED BATTING HELMETS
Introduced the 1-piece Lexan-branded polycarbonate shell with double ear protectors, grooved vinyl padding and jaw pads, all designed for optimum comfort and protection
1977
EXCLUSIVE SUPPLIER OF BASEBALLS
Rawlings becomes the EXCLUSIVE SUPPLIER OF BASEBALLS TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL®
1984
SIGNATURE SERIES
Mimicked the glove designs and autograph stamps of the biggest names in baseball to create one of the most popular product lines in the history of baseball
1989
GOLD GLOVE® SERIES
Developed this small pattern infielder’s glove with a non-extensive break-in process, to help players reach in and quickly get the baseball out in order to turn two and catch the runner racing down the line at first
1993
HIGH PERFORMANCE BATTER’S HELMETS
Newly created state-of-the-art helmet includes an ABS shell for lasting finish and superior durability, lower ear flaps for greater protection and unrestricted hearing, and Rawlings’ exclusive Ultra Pro Fit™ had band: conforms to the head of the player to create the perfect fit
1995
RPT™ SERIES
Incorporated a unique leather conditioning process, providing a rich, supple feel and minimized break-in time, and extra oil treatments increase durability and decrease glove maintenance
2001
PRO PREFERRED™
Debuted new series featuring the industry-first kipskin leather, deerskin linings, 100-pound tensile strength laces and 100% wool padding
2001
OSI FIBERGLASS PROTECTION GEAR
Fused the latest in medical technology, OSI gear conformed to the body for a custom fit that provided any catcher with ultimate comfort and protection
2003
OFFICIAL BATTING HELMET
Rawlings becomes the OFFICIAL BATTING HELMET OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL®
2003
COOLFLO®
Launched a new helmet design that added 15 air vents into the helmet shell for increased circulation, optimal comfort and exceptional performance
2003
RAWLINGS LIQUIDMETAL
Rawlings announced its strategic partnership with Liquidmetal® Technologies, and the creation of one of the most purchased alloy bat series in history
2005
RAWLINGS PARTNERS WITH EA SPORTS®
Rawlings partnered with EA Sports® to launch the Fusion™ bat inside the NCAA-centric video game – the first time a product ever launched to the marketplace inside a video game
2006
PRIMO®
Made with fine Italian leather and a handcrafted Dual-Core™ system, this glove series established the worldwide premium-standard in glove craftsmanship
2007
50 YEARS OF RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE AWARD®
Rawlings celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® and the announcement of the anniversary Rawlings Gold Glove Award® team
2010
REVO SOLID CORE™
Unveiled this 1-piece palm construction design with a laceless heel; redefined how a glove fits, feels and functions
2010
pOp® TECHNOLOGY
Introduced new BBCOR bat barrel technology, Precision-Optimized Performance Technology, used by the University of South Carolina to win its second consecutive NCAA® College World Series® title.
2010
NRG QUANTUM
Re-entered football protective headwear market with two new helmets designed for youth, varsity and professional players; worn by some of the best NFL® players in the league today, including All-Pro running backs Steven Jackson, Arian Foster and wide receiver Andre Johnson.
2011
RAWLINGS PLATINUM GLOVE AWARD®
Rawlings unveils the first-ever Rawlings Platinum Glove Award® fan vote to determine who is the best defender from the nine Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners in each League
2012
125th ANNIVERSARY
Rawlings introduces the limited-edition 125th Anniversary glove series, including the individually-numbered, 4-model collector’s edition celebrating generations of the industry’s best glove innovations
